Handle-connecting device for suit-cases.



, G. W. WOOD. HANDLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SUIT GASES.

APPLICATION FILED APB..17, 1909.

Patented July 20, 1909.

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barren emerge ira'rnivr carton GARLAND W. WOOD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HANDLE-CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SUIT-CASES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARLAND "W. 7001), a citizen of the United States, residingat St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Handle-Connecting Devices for Suit-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for connecting handles to suitcases and similar articles.

The main object of my invention is to providea device of the character described that will securely connect a handle to a suitcase and also reinforce and strengthen that portion of the suitcase to which the handle is fastened.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is so constructed that it can be connected to the suitcase without the aid of rivets or separate fastening devices.

Another object is to provide a handleconnecting device that can be manufactured at a low cost and which presents a neat and ornamental. appearance to the suitcase. And still another object is to provide a suitcase handle-connecting device that will permit the handle to swing transversely of the suitcase and also longitudinally thereof, thus permitting the suitcase to have a slight longitudinal swinging movement when it is being carried.

Ether obj ccts and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a portion of a suitcase provided with my improved handle-connecting device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said device detached from the suitcase and handle; and Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken on approximately the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred form of my invention, 1 designates the top wall of a suitcase, and 2 designates a handle that is connected to said top wall by two of my improved handle-connecting devices. Each of these devices preferably consists of a flat strip of metal bent to form a top portion or top Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1909.

plate 3 that lies upon the outside of the top Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 490,475.

wall 1 of the suitcase, a portion 4 that passes through an opening in the top Wall of the suitcase and extends along the under side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to form an inside plate, an integral eye or curved portion 5 on one end of the top plate 3 for receiving a ring 6 connected to the handle, and integral legs 7 and 8 on said'eye and top plate, respectively, that pass through the top wall of the suitcase and through openings 7 and 8 in the portion 4; that extends along the under side of the top wall of the suitcase, said legs '2' and Shaving pointed ends and being adapted to be bent laterally, asshown in Fig. 3, so as to connect the deviceto the suitcase. The top plate 3 is preferably wider than the eye 5 and the portion a, and the leg 8 is formed by partially severing the centralportion of the top plate 3 and bending it downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2.

I prefer to interpose a piece of leather 9, or other suitable non-metallic material, between the handle-connecting device and the top wall of the suitcase so as to reinforce and strengthen that portion of said top wall which is subjected to the greatest strain.

I also prefer to have this reinforcing piece 9 extend into the eye or curved portion 5 of the top plate, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to form a non-metallic lining for same and thus prevent the ringG on the handle from rubbing upon or contacting with a metallic portion of the device which secures said handle to the suitcase. The top plate 3 and the inside plate 4 of the connecting device are long enough so that they will have an extended bearing on the top wall of the suitcase and thus reduce the liability of said top wall tearing or breaking as very often occurs in constructions wherein the handleconnecting device has a comparatively small bearing surface on the top wall of the suitcase. Another advantage of such a construction is that it permits a slight longitudinal swinging movement of the suitcase when it is being carried for the cooperating eyes 5 andrings 6 produce a pivotal connec tion between the handle and suitcase, said rings also permitting the handle to swing transversely or drop into an approximately horizontal position when the suitcase is not being carried. No rivets or separate fastenings are used for securing the device to the suitcase for the legs 7 and 8 are adapt-ed to be bent laterally so as to clamp the inside plate 4: against the top wall of the suitcase, and this absence of rivets or separate fasten? ing devices not only reduces the cost of manufacture but it also improves the appearance of the suitcase. The device can be manufactured at a low cost for it can be stamped out of a strip of metal and then bent into the shape shown in Fig. 2 by suitable dies. The operation of connecting the device to the suitcase is also very simple and can be accomplished quickly for the legs 7 and 8 and the portion 4: are first inserted in openings provided for them in the top wall of the suitcase and then bent into the position shown in Fig. 3. While I have herein shown my improved device used for connecting a handle to a suitcase, it will, of course, be obvious that it could be used for connecting handles to other articles without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle-connecting device, comprising a top plate adapted to lie outside of the article' to which the handle is to be connected, an inside plate integrally connected to said top plate and adapted to be arranged on the inner side of said article parallel to said top plate, an integral member on one of said plates for engaging the other plate, and means on saidtop plate to which a handle can be fastened.

2. A handle-connecting device, comprising a top plate, an inside plate integrally connected to one end of same and adapted to be arranged parallel to said top plate on the inside of the article to which the handle is connected, an integral member on one of said plates that is adapted to pass through the other plate and then bent laterally over same to retain it in position, and an integral device on said top plate towhich a handle can be connected.

3. A device for the purpose described, comprising a top plate provided with an integral portion that is adapted to be inserted through one wall of the article to which the device is connected and then bent laterally over the inner face of said wall so that it extends parallel to said top plate, a leg on said top plate that is adapted to pass through said wall and said inside portion and then be bent laterally so as to lap over said inside portion, and an eye or curved portion on said top plate provided with a leg that is adapted to be inserted through said wall and then bent into engagement with said inside portion.-

l. As a new article of manufacture, a handle-connecting device consisting of a to 3 plate provided at one end with an integra portion that is adapted to be bent laterally into such a position that it extends parallel to said top plate, said top plate and laterally bent portion being adapted to lie on opposite sides of the top wall of the article to which the handle is connected, an integral eye or loop on said top plate, and means formed integral with said top plate for retaining said laterally bent portion in position.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a handle-connecting device consisting of a top plate provided at one end with an integral portion that is adapted to be bent laterally into such a position that it extends parallel to said top plate, an integral eye or loop on said top plate, and integral legs on said top plate and eye that are adapted to pass through openings in said laterally bent portion and then bent over to engage and retain said portion in position.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a handle connecting device consisting of a sheet metal plate provided at one end with an integral portion that is adapted to be bent laterally into a position parallel to said plate, a leg on said plate formed by partially severing the central portion of said plate and then bending said severed portion out of its normal plane, an integral eye or loop 011 one end of said plate, and a leg integrally connected to said eye, the laterally bent portion of said plate having openings through which said legs pass.

7. In a suitcase or similar article, a metal top plate arranged on the outside face of the top wall of said suitcase, an inside plate integrally connected to said top plate and extending parallel thereto along the inside face of said top wall, an integral member on said top plate passing through said wall and inside plate and bent laterally into engagement with said inside plate, and a handle connected to said top plate.

8. In a suitcase or similar article, a metal top plate arranged on the outside face of the top wall of said suitcase, an inside plate i11- tegrally connected to said top plate and extending parallel thereto along the inside face of said top "wall, an integral member on said top plate passing through said wall and inside plate and bent laterally into engagement with said inside plate, an eye or loop on said integrally connected to said top plate and extending parallel thereto along the inside face of said top wall, an integral member on said top plate passing through said wall and inside plate and bent laterally into engagement with said inside plate, an eye or loop on said top plate provided with'a member that passes through the top Wall of the suitcase and said inside plate, a ring passing through said eye, and a handle connected to said ring.

10. In a suitcase or similar article, a nonmetallic piece of material connected to the outside face of the top Wall of the suitcase, a ring arranged inside ofa loop on said material, a handle connected to said ring, a metal top plate mounted upon said piece of non-metallic material and provided at one end with an integral curved portion that extends over said loop and at its opposite end With an integral portion that passes through said piece of non-metallic material and the top Wall of the suitcase and thence along the underside of said top Wall on the inside of the suitcase, and integral depending legs on said top plate that pass through openings in the integral portion of the top plate that extends along the under side of the top Wall of the suitcase, said legs being bent laterally so as to retain said plate in position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this fourteenth day of April 1909.

GARLAND W. WOOD. 

